Cassette or container coding - has mechanical or magnetic code contents related for mechanical or opto-electronic sensing

摘要

The coding method is for film or tape (including video) cassettes or containers so that the contents can be identified and processed correctly in automatic equipment. The method is particularly applicable to film processing and tape dubbing equipments. The system uses code markings (12) on the outside (11) of the cassette or container which can be picked up by a sensor (15) and decoded. The code may be mechanical or magnetic, if mechanical, it is sensed by fingers and microswitches (16, 15) and may be raised or cut in, but facility exists to change the code should the contents be changed. The code may also use opto-electronic, piezoelectric or Hall effect methods. The code would provide such information as the film speed or tape type in the cassette.